Fourths premiers reunite at Kilcunda-Bass

KILCUNDA-Bass Football Netball Club welcomed back into 1974 Fourths premiers recently.

Eighteen members of the team headed back to the club for the day, with just three apologies.

“It was magnificent to see so many of us return after 50 years. Many of us still keep in contact – we’re all still good mates,” former player Les Hender said.

“We played in the premiership when we were 11 to 13 years old, and now we’re in our 60s. It was fantastic to see everyone back again.”

A parent of one of the players kept the newspaper cuttings from the 1974 season, allowing the team to really look back and reflect on the win on the day.

“It was amazing to look back on it. The Fourths team formed in 1972 and in our first year we never won a game, but two years later we were undefeated and won the grand final,” Les said.

“Fourteen years later, I coached the Reserves and eight of the premiership Fourths players came back to play and we won again.”

Both premierships were played against Inverloch-Kongwak.

Wayne Churchill was the coach of the 1974 premiership side.

“Wayne didn’t play in the 1988 premiership, but I did coach him in his last game, so it came full circle,” Les said. 

“We’ve all had a great journey together. The best part about football is the friendships you make. After all these years, the friendships are still the same,” Les said.

The premiership players got together at the social rooms, enjoyed lunch together and watched the Seniors take on the Warragul Industrials.

The Seniors treated them to a 34-point win on the day.

“Although it was a lifetime ago, it’s like we’re all still best mates. Everyone had a story to tell – it was a magnificent day,” Les said.